Flushing apparatus for water-pipes.



Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

G. W. REDEKER. PLUSHING APPARATUS FOR WATER PIPES.

vAPPLIOA'IION FILED DEG. 8, 1910. 16,521.

WTNLEEEE: W f% 7 provide an apparatus whereby sediment and GEORGE. w. n'lpnxnn, or WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

rwsnme. APPARATUS FOR WATER-PIPES..

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. 6, 1912.

I Application filed December 8, 1910. Serial No. 596,344.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. REDEKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Water-Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for flushing water service pipes.

The primary object of the invention is to obstructions may be readily and conveniently removed from house service water pipes without the trouble and inconvenience of digging up streets and side-walks.

JA further object. is to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned whereby a violent shock may be given to the column of water contained in the service pipes for dislodging foreign matter or obstructions, after which, when the. shocking forceis relieved, the obstructions and sediment are discharged under the pressure of the water.

A still further object is to provide means whereby material having a cutting or abrasive action may be forced through the pipes of a water service system for clearing the same of scale and closely adhering foreign matter.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the particular construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a' part of this specification, in which Figure l is a diagrammaticview of the invention applied to a water-service line, the pressure-tank inclosing cylinder being shown in longitudinal section; and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-1 indicates a tank which is preferably filled with carbonic acid gas at high pressure, but which may contain any other suitable compressed gas, air, gas-forming chemicals, or gaseous or liquid material capable of discharging therefrom at continued high pressure. Saidtank is preferably inclosed within a closed cylinder or casing 2 for a purpose which will presently be explained.

A suitable valve 3 is provided at the discharge end of the tank, the same being operated in any appropriate manner, as by a key 4 directed through theadjacent end of the cylinder 2. Leading from said valve and extending outward through said cylinder is a small discharge pipe 5 which is connected to a larger pipe 6 havin a gate-valve 7 thereon,'the last mentione pipe being connected to one end of a pipe 8 whose opposite end is adapted for having a flexible pipe or hose 9 attached thereto. for, having its opposite end attached to a house-service water pipe 10 at any suitable point, as at a faucet or other convenient point for admitting the applied pressure to said service pipes.

A pressure gage 11 and a pop safety or relief valve 12 are providedon the pipe 8, the former for indicating the pressure admitted therethrough to the service pipes, and the latter for permitting of theescape of Said hose is adapted pressure when it exceeds a predeterminedpoint, preventing bursting of pipes.

In practice, when the'hose connection has been made to the service pipes, the gatevalve 7 is opened" so as to allow the water in said pipes to flow back to the valve3 of the pressure tank 1. The said valve 3 is then opened quickly to suddenly release a heavy,

or the full, pressure of the gas in the tank. Owing to the fact that water is practicall non-compressible, the impact of the gas wit the column of water in the pipes, due to I the sudden release of the gas, produces a vio lent shock and induces a sudden recoil in the water column which extends throughout the entire length of said pipes. This violent I movement of the water, resulting from the impact, loosens or detaches the scale, sediment and other foreign matter in the pipes.

The valves 3 and 7 are then simultaneously closed and a valve 14 in a drain pipe15 connected to the pipe 8 is immediately opened.'

This permits the wait in the service pipes to rush out through drain-pipe 15 under full pressure, carrying therewith the dislodged foreign matter; or, if desired, the hose may be disconnected from the faucet and said matter permitted todischarge from the latter.

In some cases it will be found that the pipes have become corroded, or that an obstruction exists in the pipes which efi'ectually resists dislodgment under the violent shock due to the sudden release of the gas. In such cases, I interpose between the hose 9 and the service pipe 10 a connection which is herein designated generally by the numeral 16 and which consists of a pipe 17 having direct connection at its opposite ends with said hose 9 and pipe 10, and a by-pass pipe 18 connected at opposite ends to said .plpe 17 adjacent to the ends of the latter.

A- pair of gate-valves 19 is provided on said pipe 17 between the connections of the bypass pipe thereto, one of said gate-valves being located adjacent to each of said connections. The portion of said pipe 17 which is between said gate-valves is filled with a material which, when forced through the service pipes, will scrape and scour said pipes, cracked ice being preferably employed for this purpose, for the reason that portions thereof remaining in the pipes will readily melt and present no permanent obstruction. Either prior to theapplication of the pressure from the tank 1, or prior to closing ofl? sald pressure, as hereinbefore explained, according to the direction which it is desired the ice shall take, the gate-valves 19 are opened and the valves 20 adjacent to opposite ends of by-pass pipe 18 are closed. Pressure from the tank applied slowly, or the pressure of water returning through the pipes, as the case may be, forces the ice through the pipes, the irregular edges of the ice serving to effectually scrape and scour said pipes and to carry therebefore the dis;

lodged foreign matter contained by thelatter. When it is desired to direct the ice and dislodged material outward through the hose, the pipe 17 is filled with ice and the gate valves 19 closed. The valves 20' then recting heat against said valve 3. While,

any preferred means may be resorted to,

I that shown in the drawings has been found eflicient for the purpose, the same consisting of a small boiler 21having a steam-pipe 22 leading therefrom through the cylinder 2 and adapted to discharge steam against said valve 3. A throttle valve 23, a steamgage 24, and a pop safety valve 25 are preferably provided in said steam-pipe, as shown. Vater is supplied to the boiler in any appropriate manner, as by a pipe 26 connected to the pipe 8, a valve 27 being provided in said pipe 26.

discharged from steam-pipe 22, which steam is utilized for heating the tank, causing the inclosed gas to expand and, consequently, increasing the pressure.

Adjustable oppositely disposed clamps are employed for supporting the tank 1 within the cylinder 2, said clamps comprising curved supporting plates 28 having stems 29 fixed thereto and projected outward through the cylinder wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Apparatus for flushing house-service water pipes, comprising a tank containing gas under high pressure, a pipe leading from said tank and adapted to be connected to a service pipe, a valve-closed drain pipe connected to the first mentioned pipe, means for introducing'an abrading material in the service pipe, means whereby water is permitted to pass around the abrading material in one direction, and means whereby the last mentioned means is closed.

2. Apparatus for flushing house-service water pipes, comprising a tank containing gas under high pressure, means for connecting said tank to a service pipe, means for introducing an abrading material in the service pipe, a by-pass pipe through which water is permitted to pass around the abrading material in one direction, and means whereby the Water may be caused to act upon said material for forcing the latter in the opposite direction.

3. Apparatus for flushing house-service water pipes, comprising a high-pressure gas tank, means for connecting said tank to a service-pipe, means for directin gas from said tank into said pipe'to pro uce a violent impact withthe water in the latter, means for cutting off the gas-supply, and means for allowing the water and extraneous matter dislodged by said impact to escape from said pipe.

4. Apparatus for flushing house-service water pipes, comprising a high-pressure gas tank, means for connecting said tank to a service-pipe, means for directing gas'from 'said tank into said pipe for delivering a latter, means for cutting off the gas-supply The cylinder 2 serves to confine the steam violent shock to the column of water in the to allow the water to rush back through said allowing the returning water and dislodged pipe, means for introducing an abrading extraneous matter to escape from said pipe; 0 material into said pipe, means associated In testimony whereof I aflix my signature with the last mentioned means whereby, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

when the gas pressure in the pipe is relieved GEORGE W. REDEKER. the force of the returning water is caused Witnesses: 1

to act upon said abrading material, moving H. E. DUNLAP, the latter through said pipe, and'means for FRANCIS REDEKER. 

